This instrument
is generally used to measure the leaf area of
plants. The fat thickness (FT) was measured perpendicularly
to the surface, between the 12th and 13th thoracic vertebrae,
at a lateral position from the animal midline at a
point 3/4th of the distance from the medial end of the
Longissimus thoracis muscle, as measured using a graded
ruler. The REA and FT adjusted to the average HCW were
also included in the analysis.